Native Plants

The following plant species are all native to the Philadelphia region. By planting these species in your landscapes you will enhance biodiversity by creating an environment that supports a natural community of interacting plants and animals. Remember that practicing environmentally sound gardening techniques will help encourage more native wildlife. To learn more on native plant species contact your local nursery, garden center or book store.

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Asclepias incarnata	Swamp milkweed	Sun	Monarch Butterflies (main source of food)
Eupatorium perfoliatum	Boneset	Part Shade	Butterflies, Honeybees
Hibiscus moscheutos	Rose mallow	Sun	Butterflies
Impatiens capensis	Jewelweed	Part Shade	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Iris versicolor	Blue flag	Part Shade to Sun	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Juncus effusus	Soft rush	Part Shade to Sun	Marshbirds, Waterfowl
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal flower	Shade to Sun	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Lobelia siphilitica	Great blue lobelia	Part Shade to Sun	Butterflies, Honeybees, Hummingbirds
Onoclea sensibilis	Sensitive fern	Part Shade to Sun	NA
Scirpus atrovirens	Green bulrush	Sun	Waterfowl, Marshbirds, Shorebirds, Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Small Mammals

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Cephalanthus occidentalis	Buttonbush	Sun	Marshbirds, Waterfowl
Clethra alnifolia	Sweet pepperbush	Part Shade	Songbird, Waterfowl, Small Mammals
Cornus alternfolia	Red osier dogwood	Part Shade	Marshbirds, Waterfowl, Large and Small Mammals
Ilex verticillata	Winterberry	Part Shade	Songbirds, Winter Waterfowl
Physocarpus opulifolius	Common ninebark	Part Shade to Sun	Gamebirds, Marshbirds, Waterfowl, Small Mammals
Rosa palustris	Swamp rose	Sun	Gamebirds
Salix discolor	Pussy Willow	Shade	Songbirds, Waterfowl, Large and Small Mammals
Sambucus canadensis	Elderberry	Part Shade	Various Bird Species, Large and Small Mammals
Spiraea latifolia	Meadow sweet	Part Shade to Sun	Gamebirds, Songbirds, Small Mammals
Vibrunum trilobum	Cranberry Viburnum	Part Shade	Marshbirds, Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Waterbirds

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Acer saccharinum	Silver Maple	Sun	Songbirds, Waterbirds, Waterfowl
Acer rubrum	Red maple	Part Shade	Songbirds, Waterbirds, Small Mammals
Betula nigra	River birch	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Waterfowl Small Mammals
Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green ash	Part Shade	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Magnolia virginiana	Sweetbay magnolia	Part Shade to Sun	Birds, Small Mammals
Nyssa sylvatica	Sour gum	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Platanus occidentalis	Sycamore	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds
Quercus bicolor	Swamp white oak	Part Shade	Songbirds, Upland Ground birds, Waterbirds, Small Mammals
Quercus palustris	Pin oak	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Ground birds, Waterbirds, Small Mammals
Salix nigra	Black willow	Sun	Songbirds, Waterfowl, Small Mammals

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Geranium maculatum	Wild Geranium	Shade to Part Shade	Butterflies
Heuchera americana	Alum root	Part Shade	NA
Mertensia virginica	Virginia bluebells	Shade to Part Shade	Hummingbirds
Osmunda cinnamomea	Cinnamon fern	Shade to Sun	NA
Panicum virgatum	Switch grass	Sun	Butterflies, Songbirds
Polystichum acrostichoides	Christmas fern	Shade to Part Shade	NA
Rudbeckia laciniata	Tall coneflower	Sun	Butterflies
Sanguinaria canadensis	Blood root	Shade to Sun	NA
Senecio aurceus	Golden groundsel	Shade to Sun	NA
Aquilegia canadensis	Columbine	Part Shade to Sun	Bumblebees, Honeybees, Hummingbirds
Viola septentrionalis	Northern Blue Violet	Shade to Part Shade	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Small Mammals

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Amelanchiar canadensis	Shadlow serviceberry	Part Shade	Songbirds
Aronia prunifolia	Purple chokeberry	Part Shade to Sun	Gamebirds, Songbirds, Mammals
Chioanthus virginicus (small tree)	Fringe tree	Part Shade	Songbirds
Cornus amommum	Silky dogwood	Sun	Songbirds, Woodpeckers
Cornus racemosa	Gray dogwood	Part Shade	Butterflies
Euonymus americanus	Hearts a bursting	Shade to Part Shade	Gamebirds, Songbirds
Hamamelis virginiana (small tree)	Witch hazel	Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Hydrangea arborescens	Wild hydrangea	Part Shade	Gamebirds, Songbirds, Small Mammals
Lindera benzoin	Spice bush	Shade to Part Shade	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds
Viburnum dentatum	Arrowwood viburnum	Part Shade	Gamebirds, Songbirds, Small Mammals
Vaccinium corymbosum	Highbush blueberry	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Waterfowl, Small Mammals

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Acer saccharum	Sugar maple	Part Shade	Sonbirds, Upland Groundbirds
Carya ovata	Shagbark hickory	Shade to Part Shade	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Cercis canadensis	Red bud	Part Shade	Songbrids, Upland Groundbirds, Small Mammals
Cornus florida	Flowering dogwood	Part Shade	Songbirds, Waterbirds, Upland Groundbirds, Large and Small Mammals
Diospyros virginiana	Persimmon	Part Shade to Sun	Birds, Small Mammals
Fagus grandifolia	American beech	Part Shade	Ground Birds, Songbirds, Small Mammals
Fraxinus americana	White ash	Part Shade	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip tree	Part Shade	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Prunus serotina	Black cherry	Part Shade	Songbirds, Small Mammals
Quercus alba	White oak	Part Shade	Songbrids, Upland Groundbirds, Small Mammals
Quercus rubra	Red oak	Sun	Songbrids, Upland Groundbirds, Small Mammals

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attracted
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterflyweed	Sun	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Dicentra exemia	Wild bleeding heart	Part Shade	NA
Helianthus strumosus	Wood sunflower	Part Shade to Sun	Butterflies, Marshbirds, Songbirds, Shorebirds, Upland Gamebirds, Small Mammals
Liatris spicata	Spiked gayfeather	Sun	Butterflies
Monarda fistulosa	Bergamot	Sun	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Oenothera fruticosa	Sundrops	Part Shade to Sun	Butterflies, Finches, Hummingbirds, Juncos
Penstemon digitalis	Beardtongue	Sun	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Rudbeckia hirta	Black-eyed susan	Sun	Butterflies
Schizachyrium scoparium	Little bluestem	Sun	Butterflies, Songbirds
Zizia aurea	Golden alexanders	Sun	Butterflies

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Condition	Wildlife Attracted
Ceanothus americanus	New Jersey tea	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Small Mammals
Diervilla lonicera	Bush honeysuckle	Shade to Part Shade	Songbirds
Myrica pennsylvanica	Bayberry	Sun	Marshbirds, Songbirds, Winter Waterfowl
Rhus typhina	Staghorn sumac	Part Shade to Sun	Butterflies, Songbirds, Small Mammals
Rhus copallina	Winged sumac	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Waterfowl, Small and Large Mammals
Rosa caroliniana	Pasture rose	Sun	Upland Gamebirds, Small and Large Mammals
Vaccinium angustifolium	Lowbush blueberry	Part Shade to Sun	Marshbirds, Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Waterfowl
Viburnum acerfolium	Mapleleaf viburnum	Shade	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Large and Small Mammals

Scientific Name	Common Name	Light Conditions	Wildlife Attraction
Betula lenta	Sweet birch	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Gamebirds, Small Mammals
Celtis occidentalis	American hackberry	Shade	Songbirds
Juniperus virginiana	Red cedar	Sun	Songbirds, Upland Groundbirds, Small Mammals
Pinus rigida	Pitch pine	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Birds, Small Mammals
Pinus strobus	White pine	Part Shade to Sun	Songbirds, Upland Birds, Small Mammals
Quercus coccinea	Scarlet oak	Part Shade	Songbirds, Upland Groundbirds
Quercus prinus	Chestnut oak	Sun	Songbrids, Upland Ground birds, Small Mammals
Quercus velutina	Black oak	Part Shade	Songbrids, Upland Ground birds, Small Mammals
Sassafras albidium	Sassafras	Part Shade	Songbirds

References:

American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits, A. Martin, H. Zim, A. Nelson

Native Plants in the Creation of Backyard Schoolyard and Park Habitat Areas, M. Mowery

Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Urban and Rural America, G. Hightshoe